CORNARO

cornaro, luigi (1467-1566), a venetian nobleman, famous for his treatises on a temperate life. in his youth he lived freely, but after a severe illness at the age of forty, he began under medical advice gradually to reduce his diet. for some time he restricted himself to a daily allowance of 12 oz. of solid food and 14 oz. of wine; later in life he reduced still further his bill of fare, and found he could support his life and strength with no more solid meat than an egg a day. at the age of eighty-three he wrote his treatise on _the sure and certain method of attaining a long and healthful life_, the english translation of which went through numerous editions; and this was followed by three others on the same subject, composed at the ages of eighty-six, ninety-one and ninety-five respectively. the first three were published at padua in 1558. they are written, says addison (_spectator_, no. 195), "with such a spirit of cheerfulness, religion and good sense, as are the natural concomitants of temperance and sobriety." he died at padua at the age of ninety-eight.